Hey, pet parents! Dr. B here from Pet Health. Welcome back to our September series dedicated to ear health. So far, we’ve discussed the various causes of ear infections in dogs, but today, we’re diving deeper into one of the primary culprits: food allergies. Allergic diseases, such as food hypersensitivities, can account for up to 43% of canine ear infection cases. Let’s explore how diet and food allergies can affect your dog’s ear health and what you can do about it.

Understanding Food Allergies in Pets

What Are Food Allergies?

Food allergies in dogs are more common than you might think. They are diagnosed in approximately 1-2% of all dogs seen by primary care veterinarians. The most common allergens are beef, chicken, lamb, and wheat proteins. The exact mechanism behind food allergies isn’t fully understood, but factors such as previous diet, genetics, concurrent health status, and immune function play a role.

Important Dr. B Point: Contrary to popular belief, food allergies take time to develop. Most dogs have been consuming the offending food for years without issues, so a sudden change in diet is usually not the trigger.

How Food Allergies Cause Ear Problems

Food allergies can cause inflammation inside the ear, leading to secondary ear infections. Unlike seasonal allergies, which flare up in spring and fall, food allergies cause year-round issues. Other signs include gastrointestinal problems like gas, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and abdominal discomfort.

Important Dr. B Point: Your pet’s age can help identify food allergies. If a young pet under six months or an older pet over six years suddenly develops symptoms, food allergies might be the primary suspect.

Diagnosing Food Allergies

When pinpointing dog food allergies, there’s one gold-standard method: the elimination diet trial (EDT). This approach involves meticulously removing potential allergens from your dog’s diet and reintroducing them to see if symptoms reappear.

Important Dr. B Point: While it might be tempting to use over-the-counter tests like blood, saliva, or hair samples to diagnose food allergies, none of these methods have been proven effective. Save your money and focus on a technique that works: the elimination diet trial.

The Process of an Elimination Diet Trial

The elimination diet trial is the cornerstone of diagnosing food allergies. Here’s how it works:

Choosing the Right Diet:
- You’ll start by feeding your dog a diet containing a novel or hydrolyzed protein source. Novel proteins, like white fish or duck, are those your dog hasn’t eaten before. Hydrolyzed proteins are broken down into small pieces your dog’s immune system shouldn’t react to.
- Avoid over-the-counter diets during the elimination diet trial. These diets often contain unlabeled ingredients or contaminants that can complicate the diagnosis and interfere with the treatment. Stick with veterinary-approved diets for the best results.

Strict Adherence:
- For the next 12 weeks, strictly adhering to this diet is crucial. This means no treats, flavored chew toys (stick to rubber or plastic), or chewable medications. Think of it as a dietary boot camp for your pup!
Monitoring Symptoms:
- During this period, you should see an improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms, usually within two weeks. Skin symptoms often take a bit longer, with about 90% of dogs showing improvement within eight weeks. However, don’t be discouraged if it takes up to 13 weeks for complete improvement—every dog is different.

The final step in confirming a food allergy is diet provocation. This means reintroducing the old diet to see if symptoms return. If they do, it’s a clear sign that a food allergy is at play. However, if your dog is thriving on the new diet, we often opt to continue it, assuming an underlying food allergy exists.

Long-Term Prognosis:

The prognosis for dogs with food allergies is generally excellent, with ongoing, appropriate dietary restrictions. However, it’s important to recognize that dogs do not typically “grow out” of their food allergies.

Final Thoughts

Managing food allergies to improve your dog’s ear health requires dedication and consistency. By choosing the proper diet, closely monitoring your pet’s response, and addressing any additional factors that could contribute to ear infections, you can help your dog lead a healthier, happier life. Regular check-ups and open communication with your Pet Health vet are crucial to managing food allergies and ensuring your pet’s well-being.

Stay tuned for more tips and tricks in our ear health series. Until next time, happy pet parenting!